• Chapter Eleven: Book Kingdom •
…
Books, books and books. Stacked on top of each other- millions of books, each a different combination of twenty-six letters put together. There were fat ones, thin ones, dusty ones and polished ones. Ones with colour splashed across the front cover, others dull- even the writing in them seemed blank. Fiction, non-fiction, every single genre. In the centre of the room, there was shockingly a life source- just sitting there. You would barely know it was alive though, as it sat still as a rock, engrossed in one book in particular. The pony was lavender-violet, with dazzling purple eyes. She had a long mane which had a fringe, which was a deep blue, with pink and purple highlights. Her Cutie Mark was a pink star, shining elegantly in the purple sky, with white beams shooting out of it, alongside five stars. The filly was a unicorn, her horn with a pink aura around it, as it levitated the book she was reading before her.
"Nopony knows what happened to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Rumour has it, that the tyrant ruler Queen Chrysalis has her locked away, in an icy dungeon, where the changeling queen feeds off her youth each passing day..." The sentence sent a tremor run down the pony's back, as she continued to read. "Princess Celestia was forced to raise the sun, and Princess Luna was forced to raise the moon..." The pony hesitated, looking away from the book, "not that it's any different from what they used to do."
"Twilight Sparkle!" The voice echoed through the room, and the violet unicorn slammed her book shut with her unbelievable magic. She looked up to see a light purple dragon with green spikes. He was standing on the outskirts of her Kingdom of books. The dragon had a light-yellow underbelly, emerald-green eyes and had a concerned expression on his face. "Are you reading that history book again?"
Twilight Sparkle gave a guilty look to her left, levitating the book behind her back reticently. "No."
Spike gave a frustrated sigh, and walked up to her, before snatching the book out of her levitation, brushing the dust from its cover. "I know you are very fond of the princess antiquity, but I wouldn't get my hopes up. How long ago was it when Chrysalis stole Celestia, Luna and Cadance's reign? Four years ago. Four years of nothing happening but chaos. I am sorry Twilight, but Chrysalis and her army are incredibly strong… I doubt there is any chance above ten percent that anypony will be able to overthrow her."
Twilight peered at the ground. "I know... I just wish Equestria was like what it used to be. The books told me there was harmony! There is no harmony here, watching ponies get killed each day! I can't stand this anymore!" Twilight sighed, and slumped to the ground, her hooves covering her desperate expression.
Spike glanced down at her sympathetically. "I know you miss your home back in Canterlot... But this home in Ponyville can't be too-"
"We live in a basement." Twilight grumbled.
"Bad!" Spike finished.
"We live in a basement!" Twilight Sparkle repeated. She slowly got up, her hooves slightly juddering. "I don't know about you Spike, but I have had enough! Please give me back my book, so I can research more." Twilight Sparkle attempted to clench onto the book, but Spike flayed his claws out of reach.
"No. You've been reading too much lately. Let's go outside... get some exercise. You've been cooped up in this crowded area for too long." Spike may only be a baby dragon, but he was smart.
Twilight sighed in loss. "Ok, fine."
The unicorn filly followed her assistant, as they clambered their way through the books. They eventually reached a ladder, which they climbed up, until finally they appeared inside an old hollow tree. It was empty inside, and nothing showed any sign that there was life inside. Twilight and Spike had to hide down in the basement area, because there was a risk of the changelings finding out they lived there. Chrysalis had been intensely harsh on the ponies that had formerly lived in Canterlot. Ponyville was the best place Twilight and Spike could find, because it was a small town, with lesser changeling guards. They mounted across the room, until they reached a dug ditch. For extra precaution, the dragon and unicorn snuck out of the back way of the tree. Light enfolded before the two, making Twilight blink, as she waited for her purple eyes to adjust to the light. Finally her sight returned, and Twilight Sparkle trotted down the main part of the town.
"Shining Armour!" Twilight Sparkle purred, approaching a white, unicorn, stallion with a mane striped with different shades of blue. He had a medium shade of blue eyes, and a Cutie Mark of a pink star, with a dark blue shield around it with three light blue stars above. Despite his bulky-structure, he still seemed very vulnerable. His eyes were overcast, and he looked drained. He was peering down at the ground drearily, and the sound of Twilight's voice seemed to revivify his mood.
"Twilie!" He gave a thankful smile, and gave his younger sister a warm embrace.
"How's my favourite BBBFF going?" Twilight gave a worried look.
Shining Armour sighed. "Tired... didn't... receive... as much... salary." He almost drifted into a sleep, but Twilight nudged him awake. She was incredibly troubled for her brother. Like her, he had been exiled from Canterlot, and had been forced to move to Ponyville with Twilight. He had helped her carry all the books through the journey and he had helped her dig the basement for her home. He had done nothing but help and Twilight had expected there to be a catch... but there was none. Her brother was incredibly stubborn, and even though his job as a Royal Guard had been shattered, he still felt he had to defend Twilight... for her life, for she was the only family he had left. Their parents Twilight Velvet and Night Light had mysteriously disappeared as soon as Twilight had turned six. She was now ten. At the age of six was also the year in which Chrysalis had taken over Equestria. Shining Armour had dedicated his life to Twilight. He and a few other former Royal Guards had set up a watch around Ponyville. Shining Armour didn't even come into Twilight's basement during night time... how they survived the curfew? Twilight didn't know, and there were few things she didn't know.
"I'm going to go ask one of the other kind Royal Guards to fill in for you for a bit," Twilight began, and her brother instantly shot upright.
"I'm fine! There's no need for me to have time off! I have to guard! No help needed!" No matter how hard he tried to cover up his exhaustion, it still lingered in his voice, and Twilight gave a firm shake of the head.
"No you're not. I do not care if you protest, I am going to seek help so you can sleep, whether you like it or not." Twilight held her head high, as Shining Armour gave a defeated sigh.
"Fine- but only for an hour!" He reluctantly nodded, and Twilight gave a proud huff. She trotted down the street, peering at all the Royal Guards... none of them, came near to as beaten up as Shining Armour, but they still looked tired. Twilight gritted her teeth. How am I going to find a pony to fill in for Shining Armour? She turned to Spike, who was jogging behind her with an uneasy expression on his face. Poor thing. Suddenly, Twilight collided with something, and she gave a shocked gasp, about to fall back, but a hoof quickly grabbed a hold of her before she went stumbling down. She peered up to her saviour, and her eyes locked with a pair of blue ones. Twilight opened her mouth, but when no words came out, she clamped it shut again. The pony gave a broad grin, and allowed her to regain her footing. Then she was able to talk. "I... I a-am... T-Twilight," she faltered. Why in Equestria did I introduce myself? I'm on a mission here. Hello?
The pony's smile broadened. "Flash Sentry."
By now, Twilight was able to fully examine the pony. He was a colt, with light orange fur. His mane was a medium to dark blue and he had two wings plastered over his back. The pegasi's Cutie Mark was a dark blue shield, with a yellow lightning bolt striking through the centre of it.
"A- a shield hey? S-so you're a Royal Guard?" Twilight asked, gesturing to his Cutie Mark. If she had a mirror right now, it would only take a split second that her face was redder than a tomato.
"Yes, I am new here," Flash Sentry nodded.
Twilight finally managed to snap back to normal. "Well, you see, my brother has been guarding Ponyville for ages, and he is getting really exhausted. I am getting really worried about him, and would it be ok if you could fill in for his job for a bit?" Twilight questioned.
"Of course," Flash Sentry nodded, before Twilight trotted back down the street with the colt following her. Spike was walking besides Twilight, and it wouldn't take an idiot to realise that she was acting unusual. The baby dragon was eyeing her in amusement.
"Ok, here he is... my BBBFF!" Twilight Sparkle stopped once they reached her brother, who was basically asleep, letting out an exasperated snore. "My BBBFF- isn't that right Shining Armour?" Twilight elbowed the pony in the ribs, and Shining Armour woke up in a start, instantly alert.
"What?" He jumped into an attacking position, before realising his surroundings. "I mean... yes." He peeled out of the stance.
"Flash Sentry is going to fill in for you Shining Armour," Twilight spoke slowly. Her brother glanced at the colt, before nodding.
"Alright then. Hey- you're the new pony, right?" Shining Amour raised an eyebrow, and the colt nodded, obviously recognising Shining Armour as head of all the royal guards in the area.
"Yes sir." Flash a Sentry saluted, before taking Shining Armour's place. After that, Twilight took her brother to Sugarcube Corner, and they enjoyed two delicious milkshakes made by Mr and Mrs Cake. The day was passing quickly, and Twilight and her brother were still at the café. Her brother was snoring, his head rested on the table, whilst Twilight had her head stuck in her book. Spike had gone home to dust the library off, and with each passing hour, the curfew was nearing dangerously.
Only when Twilight got a tap on the shoulder, when her senses kicked in. She looked up to see the blue earth pony, with the swirly pink mane like cupcake frosting.
"Yes Mrs Cake?" Twilight asked politely.
"The curfew is nearing, and I am getting a bit worried for you and your brother, dearie." Mrs Cake gave her a concerned glance, before trotting away to let Twilight deal with her problems.
"The curfew?" Twilight's voice shook, and she looked up at the bell tower outside the window. To confirm her issues, the belfry began to ring at 8:00pm. Twilight gulped. "Only half an hour to spare! Wake up Shining!" Twilight trotted up, and nudged her brother, but he was too deep in sleep, and Twilight couldn't bring herself to hit him too hard. Frustrated, she shoved her book into her saddlebag and levitated her brother up into the air. The pink aura was shaky, but stable. She trotted up to the counter of Sugarcube Corner, leaving a few bits, before trotting out of the café. The shrouding darkness enveloped through Twilight's worries, as she steadily jogged along the pathway. 8:10. Twenty minutes to spare. Twilight finally reached Flash Sentry, who was still standing guard in Shining Armour's place.
"Thank you so much," Twilight smiled, offering the colt a few bits, but he refused them.
"Keep them. I was happy just helping!" Flash Sentry smiled warmly as Twilight levitated Shining Armour to the ground. He lay snoring on the cold, hard earth.
"I am sorry BBBFF," Twilight sighed, before hesitantly summoning a bucket of water and tipping it onto her brother. The freezing cold water sent a spasm shuddering down Shining Armour's spine, and the adolescent colt hurriedly got up, in a freezing mess.
"Why... Twilight..?" He stuttered, through chattering teeth.
"I had to wake you up- it's 8:20 now," Twilight replied.
Shining Armour gaped, before butting Twilight towards her home.
"Go, now. While there's still a reasonable amount of time." He pushed her harder.
"Bye Flash Sentry!" Twilight cried, waving goodbye to the orange colt, before Shining Armour gave her one more heave.
"Go!"
Cantering back down the street, Twilight made her way to the tree. She scampered around the back way, before climbing down the ladder and into the basement. The smell of books filled her nostrils... With the freshly made paper... the smell of ink in the pages. Twilight gave a dreamy sigh.
"Twilight Sparkle! There you are! I was about to go outside and get you!" Spike ran up to her, and gave her a small hug around the leg. Twilight smiled, gently returning the hug, before trotting through her army of books, reaching the side of the room which had a few books stacked on top of each other to make the shape of a bed. On top of it, was a ratty, old blanket... it was good enough though. Twilight sighed, trotting up to her bed and nestling into the blanket. Spike lay down on a little basket beside her, making a perfect ball, as he was curled up tightly.
"Goodnight Spike," Twilight murmured, using her magic to turn off any remaining light in the room.
"Night, Twilight," he replied sleepily.
The two of them eventually fell into dreamless sleeps, yet thoughts were still plaguing Twilight's mind.
…
It was the morning now; ponies were only just waking up, but still cautiously peering out of their windows to see if it was safe to go outside. You could never risk going outside if there were changelings. First second, a changeling is walking behind you. The next you're dead. It just worked like that. Spike had come prepared for Twilight's waking, as he had hidden her book in all the stacks. Twilight Sparkle had tried to put up a cantankerous face, but secretly, she knew that Spike had done well.
Twilight Sparkle trotted up to the ladder, slowly climbing up it, with the baby dragon following her. The basement disappeared from her sights, and was replaced by a hollow tree interior. Twilight smiled, breathing in the air, as Spike came up with her.
"Just like any normal day," Twilight trotted up to the window, levitating some binoculars up and peering through the window to see everyday life going through Ponyville. Ponies were exiting their homes, and were excitedly rummaging through the village, rationing out food. "Aren't I right Spike?" Twilight spun around, and let out a gasp of shock. Her levitation spell stopped mid-air, and the binoculars went flying to the ground, breaking into fragments. Twilight's mouth was agape, as several changeling guards stood in her home. Two of them were holding onto Spike roughly, covering his mouth as he attempted squirming out of their grip. The changelings menaced forward belligerently, their dragonfly-like wings buzzing ever so slightly. Their fierce, icy-blue eyes glared at her, and their mouths were curved into sharp, sly grins.
"What are you doing?" Twilight gasped, backing away as they stepped forward again.
"You mean what are you doing, little pony. A Canterlot pony like you shouldn't be living in a nice home in Ponyville, like this!" The changeling who had spoken seemed to be the lead one, as every single move he made, the others seemed to understand, as they deviously stepped forward again, inches from Twilight's nose. Spike writhed around one more time, and managed to let his mouth free from their grasp.
"Run Twilight! Run!" He roared, before blowing a light green flame at the changeling's holed legs.
"Why run, when I can teleport?" Twilight mischievously chortled.
"Get her!" The leading changeling thundered. The changelings pounced forward, grasping for Twilight, but they were too late, as all they grabbed a hold of was thin air… and each other. Twilight had teleported Spike and her out of the room, and onto the regular street of Ponyville.
"Everypony, evacuate to your homes immediately! Changelings are on the loose!" Twilight bellowed, her voice echoing through the whole town, reaching the ears of passing ponies. "Get on Spike! I feel this is going to be a long day," Twilight muttered, levitating Spike onto her back before he could say anything. He clung onto her mane, as she galloped through Ponyville, towards the bell tower. It stood tall, and grand, as Twilight teleported herself and Spike up to the top.
"You stay here, Spike, and ring the bell. Send out warnings. I doubt the changelings will find you here, and if they do, call for me, ok?" Twilight gave her dragon friend a protective nuzzle.
"Aye, aye captain!" Spike nodded obediently, before he began to robustly shake the massive bell.
Twilight teleported back down to the ground, where it was havoc. Ponies were running all over the place. Screams shrilled through the town, and the ponies didn't even stop to look where they were going. All they knew to do was run. Twilight vigorously peered around, until her eyes rested on her brother.
"Shining Armour!" She cried, dashing up, but skidded to a halt, as the changelings teleported before her again.
"Going anywhere?" They sneakily attempted to get to her, causing Twilight to back away, and trip over her own hooves.
"No! Shining Armour!" Her voice rang throughout the crowd, obviously reaching her brother, as he looked up from trying to calm down passing ponies, and his eyes rested on the changelings menacing towards his little sister. Twilight nervously crab-walked backwards.
"Twilie!" He raced forward, ignoring the barbaric town. His hooves clomped against the ground, but he was too far away. The changelings had Twilight against a wall, now and she was too exhausted to power any teleportation spell.
"Get away from me you fiends!" Twilight ferociously kicked at them, but they only sniggered.
"Wait til' we tell Chrysalis about you! You will be beheaded in the centre of Canterlot! What a show!" The changelings laughed, and one of them grasped forward for Twilight. She cowered, covering her face with her hooves, closing her eyes and waiting for the horror to begin.
"Stop! Stay away from her you nuisances! You're not even changeling guards!" Twilight could feel a whoosh of air filter around her, and heard the sound of the changelings barking. All of this was just audible above the clanging of Spike's bell. Twilight opened her eyes, to see an orange pegasi colt with a blue mane step threatening towards the seven changelings. His wings were spread out, and his blue eyes were piercing. He was in a protective stance in front of Twilight, and he showed no signs of backing down to the changeling jeopardies.
The leading one laughed. "Oh… you just wait! Soldiers- fight!" The six changelings surrounding it, swarmed around Flash Sentry, and Twilight watched, her mouth agape, before wrathfully standing beside Flash Sentry, prepared to take on half of the changeling monsters.
Flash peered at her through the corner of his eye. "You go left, I'll go right, when I say go."
"Ok," Twilight replied dutifully, scuffing the ground with her hoof aggressively.
The changelings raced forward, and were about to attack.
"Go!" Flash rocketed to the right, and Twilight Sparkle zipped the opposite direction. The changelings landed on thin ground, and whizzed around furiously.
Twilight suddenly felt a pain slashing down her side, and she turned to see one of the changelings had given her a side attack. Twilight gritted her teeth, and rotated around, racing forward, and thumping the changeling over, seizing on it and pinning it to the ground. Activating her horn, Twilight sent a wave of magic scourging around the changeling and making a force pushing the creature together and slowly crushing it. It let out a bellow of shock, and teleported out of the aura quickly, battered incredibly. The creature screeched, and pounced back to Twilight, but its angling was messy, and it went flailing passed, her, just skimming her ear.
"Go! Now!" Twilight hissed, before vying forward, and with one kick of her back legs, sent the creature flying into oblivion. Twilight then twisted around, to see Flash Sentry again.
"Ok, what now?" she asked, but he only gave a devious grin, and pounced at her fast as lightning. "Oh great! Forgot you changelings can disguise yourselves," Twilight muttered, before thrusting him off her and flipping back onto her hooves. She battled forward, and used her magic to zip around the Flash Sentry replica, and change him back to a changeling. The creature gave a dizzy shake of the head, but this little fallout was too long, as Twilight pounced forward for her next attack. The insect-like creature squawked in shock, and latched onto her with its needle-sharp teeth. Twilight let out a curse of pain, before shaking her leg, to and fro before she flung the brute off her. She wasn't done with this attack yet however, as the changeling regained its footing and began racing forwards to her. Twilight waited until the last second when it had begun its pounce, and she teleported behind it, sending it slamming into a wall she was standing in front of, ever so conveniently. The creature gave a nasty screech, half in anger, half in embarrassment before scampering off. Twilight spun around, bumping into the real Flash Sentry, and blushing slightly.
"We really need to stop bumping into each other," he smirked. Twilight grinned before nodding.
"Now let's kick some changeling's butt!" Both Flash Sentry and Twilight Sparkle had already defeated two changelings each, which meant there was two left- not including the leader. Working as a team, side by side, the two ponies mirrored each other's moves as they sent blows after blows at the two remaining changelings. One of them managed to break free from their storm of blows, and pounced onto Flash Sentry, grabbing a hold of one of his wings, and began to pull it ravenously.
"Stay away from him!" Twilight spat, lunging forward and tearing at the changeling. She gave it a nasty knock on the head, forcing it to let go of Flash's wing, not a feather out of place. Having the changeling in her grip, Twilight began sending magic waves at the beaten-up insect, and the creature flailed around, attempting to leap out of her magic, but it was no use, as the pink aura tore into it. Suddenly, Twilight felt weight on her side, and she spun around fiercely, to see the second changeling had sprung onto her.
"No way!" Flash Sentry snarled, grabbing one of the changeling's legs, and heaving it off of Twilight.
"Thanks," she smiled. Flash Sentry shrugged in return, as he turned to the changeling who had just attempted to hurt Twilight. Twilight Sparkle took a step forward, towards the changeling she had been dealing with. Her purple eyes pierced into its soul until it gave a frightened squeal, lunging out of her magic and pelting out of the area. At roughly the same time, Flash had sent the changeling he was dealing with away.
"Good job," Twilight panted to the orange colt.
He nodded, "you too. I never knew you would be this good at fighting. You were brilliant out there!"
Twilight blushed, "you weren't too bad yourself!"
"Enough with the fluffy stuff, there is still me to deal with!" The seventh changeling, which was the leader menaced forward. Twilight Sparkle and Flash Sentry glanced at it, before grinning.
Changelings were one of the creatures which were used to others trembling in fear at them, and found it offensive if another didn't find them frightening.
"How dare you! I am going to make sure Chrysalis hangs you two in the centre of Canterlot for a year! I'll make sure you never get buried, and you will both get tortured before you die! How come you are not afraid?" The jet-black creature hissed, its voice rasped slightly… almost like a snake.
"Because my brother is behind you," Twilight Sparkle retorted, a smug grin enfolded on her face.
"What?" The creature spun around in surprise, and came nose to nose with Shining Armour who towered over it. Shining Armour's mouth curved into a cunning grin.
"Hello." There was not much more to say about what happened after that. The victory had only seemed to last for a matter of seconds, until Twilight began to look up to the sky sorrowfully.
"This is my entire fault."
"What do you mean it's your fault? It could have happened to anypony!" Shining Armour glanced down at his sister perplexedly.
Twilight looked down now, the ground laden with blood. "Yesterday they must have seen me go into my home. I usually sneak into it and try not to draw attention to myself. Yesterday I just clambered into it like I didn't have a care in Equestria!" Twilight sobbed, looking down at the ground, and Shining Armour pulled the crying filly into a hug.
"It's okay. It's alright."
Flash Sentry watched the two siblings worriedly.
"It's not though- now they know where I live, and we will probably have to move to some town else." Twilight peered at the ground. "And it's all thanks to me."
…
Not much more events had happened that night. Twilight had brought Spike back down from the bell tower, and they had begun to organise the books. Where they were moving, Twilight did not know. Shining Armour had thanked Flash Sentry, and everypony else had returned from hiding in their homes and came out into the village once more to enjoy the rest of the day. With each step, Twilight had tears welling in her eyes. She didn't know where to go… she might as well be homeless. But at least she had ponies that cared about her. Her brother, Spike and maybe Flash Sentry as well.